Thanksgiving 2011

So much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season that I don't know where to begin. First off though, my apologies to my wonderful son Rowan. I have not done a very good job documenting my complete love for you as I have for your older sister through this blog. It is not because I love you less; that is far from the truth. This blog was started to write about the newness of fatherhood and now that I've been doing this Daddy gig for a while fatherhood has become less of a novelty. This is now what I am. You have definitely provided enough material in your three and a half years to write volumes about how great you are and how much I love you.

It has been a crazy year for sure. Back in the spring I quit the job that I have hated for a very long time and got my real estate license. Though I'm pretty sure real estate is not my passion, I have been able to lend my marketing skills to make a difference in our new family business. I need to step it up in 2012 to expand my knowledge base in this field and try to take more of a lead in an effort to take a load off Kristin's back. I am really trying hard to be a good Daddy and enjoying the opportunity to be with my family more throughout the week.

The kids are getting bigger and becoming very smart little people. Maureen has a gentle heart and is still very people-centered. She cannot wait to make new friends and I can tell that people really want to be around her (young and old). Her delicate yet striking features, with glowing blue eyes, dark, thick brown hair and china doll skin garner her compliments all the time from complete strangers to where we are concerned that she believes looks are an important part of who she is. She is still stuck on everything Princess but that's thanks to Disney marketeers. You can tell at this early age of five that she is going to be artsy: she loves her dance class at the Louisville Ballet school, she draws and colors and creates daily and she loves to perform. Maureen is a little peace maker and gets concerned when all is not right in her little world. She is sensitive enough to know when her Daddy or Mommy is not in the best of moods and tries her best to cheer us up.

Rowan loves to make people laugh - he is constantly making silly faces and saying the most ridiculous things in order to be the center of attention. He is going through a faze where he likes to push buttons to test our limits. He knows exactly how to get under his sister's skin quick and has adopted an evil little laugh (Ha, Ha!) to announce his victory in upsetting the apple cart. But he has a very sweet, gentle side as well and can be the most loving little boy. I believe he acts out because he has so much energy built up in that little body. He needs to run around and tire himself out to release the demons. He still has that crazy blond and curly hair and is as cute as can be. I think we have the most beautiful children in the world!

As we approach the new year I have high hopes and lofty goals for team Lally. I want to make sure our business is profitable enough to let us lead a comfortable lifestyle where there is no stress about money, but I don't want either of us to be so busy that it interferes with our family dynamics. The focus is the family. I want to work on demonstrating my love and devotion to my wife and beautiful children - I need to work on straightening my body and more importantly, my soul. I want to make sure we create good memories for our children, provide a safe environment and keep this unit close and strong.

End of school party 2011

The kids' end of the school year party was scheduled for yesterday, noon at Hogan's Fountain in Cherokee park. It's been raining a lot and all indications were that we were going to get wet. Boy, did we. It was miserable. But the deluge stopped after a while and wet kids got wetter. It was all fun and games until Rowan took a spill while running around in the skin collector they call a fountain. Forehead, nose, chest (including his little nipples) and knee caps were scuffed up. After a quick cry in mama's arms, he was back up and running in the fountain again. Definitely a tough guy!

My little otters

Spring has not yet sprung, but my little one's are already looking forward to summer.

So much to say

Blogging just isn't what it used to be. Let me see where I left off...oh, yes - Thanksgiving. The month of December was hectic and nice and cold (sometimes) and festive. I took several Fridays off through the month to burn some vacation time and to put in some much needed shopping hours. The holidays brought some in-laws in-state and we spent many hours playing games, sharing gifts, snapping photos and most of all, eating and drinking. The kids were overstimulated with excitement. They were up way past their bedtime throughout the holidays and it took a little doing to get them back into a routine. They were pleased with the efforts of Santa Claus and they continue to play with their new toys. Maureen got a new bike and already broke it in by taking a spill down our driveway - a few tears, a little more tightening of some nuts and bolts and she climbed back on that horse (bike). Rowan got a basketball (you can't go wrong with a ball for Rowan) a lot of Thomas Train paraphernalia - in hindsight, I think the trains were more for his Daddy as they were for him!
We are well into the month of January now and it's downright cold. Everyone is doing well. I'm not going to make any promises to blog more often, as resolutions tend not to stick. Happy new year and we'll see you soon!
Oh, PS: My sister Erin had her first child last week, Evelyn. She is very sweet and very tiny. Welcome to the world Baby Evie!